Prison Tops County Plan For '92-'96 Parking, Office Building Also On Drawing Boards

July 02, 1991|by DAN FRICKER, The Morning Call

Lehigh County released its 1992-96 capital plan yesterday, and completion of the new county prison and construction of an office building and parking facility were the big ticket items.

But Planning and Development Director James Creedon said the first half of the $46.5 million plan is devoted to maintaining and improving existing county facilities and, with the exception of the prison, big-ticket items are slated for later.

Executive David K. Bausch delivered the plan to the county commissioners Friday. Creedon said the commissioners must adopt a plan by Sept. 1. They have scheduled public hearings on the proposal for July 15 and 16.

The plan is the county's version of the Great Leap Forward, serving as a blueprint for capital expenditures. But it does not commit the county to the projects.

The plan's largest expenditure is $15.9 million during the next two years to finish construction of the $50.9-million prison at 4th and Linden streets, Allentown.

The next largest is $15 million starting in 1994 for a 90,000-square-foot office building and parking facility somewhere in downtown Allentown, Creedon said.

Other major expenditures are:

*A $2-million contribution to the Route 222 relocation project. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Upper and Lower Macungie townships and 13 private companies would also participate in the project to relocate the road between Wescosville and Trexlertown.

*A$1,250,000 contribution to purchase, along with the state, conservation easements for county farms. The purchases prevent development of the farmland.

*$1,018,000 for recycling initiatives, such as composting, household hazardous waste, tire recycling and oil reclamation programs. The county would contribute $203,600, with the state to pay the rest.

*$904,321 to install a 911E emergency telephone call system at the county communications center.

*$318,000 in improvements to the Velodrome bicycle track, starting next year.

*A $1.6-million contingency fund for emergencies.

*$127,000 to build softball and baseball fields on the Keston property in Whitehall Township in 1993.